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Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury

The Right Honourable
The Earl of Shaftesbury
PC
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury.jpg
The 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, ca. 1672–73.
Lord President of the Council
In office
21 April 1679 – 15 October 1679
Preceded by Unknown
Succeeded by The Earl of Radnor
First Lord of Trade
In office
16 September 1672 – 1676
Preceded by Office created
Succeeded by Vacant
Next holder
The Earl of Bridgewater
Lord Chancellor
In office
1672–1673
Preceded by Sir Orlando Bridgeman
Succeeded by Sir Heneage Finch
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office
13 May 1661 – 22 November 1672
Preceded by Sir Edward Hyde
Succeeded by Sir John Duncombe
Personal details
Born Anthony Ashley Cooper
(1621-07-22)22 July 1621
Dorset, Kingdom of England
Died 21 January 1683(1683-01-21) (aged 61)
Amsterdam, Dutch Republic
Spouse(s) Margaret Coventry (1639–1649, her death)
Frances Cecil (1650–1654, her death)
Margaret Spencer (1655–1683, his death)
Children 1 son
Alma mater Exeter College, Oxford

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, PC (22 July 1621 – 21 January 1683), known as Anthony Ashley Cooper from 1621 to 1630, as Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, 2nd Baronet from 1630 to 1661, and as The Lord Ashley from 1661 to 1672, was a prominent English politician during the Interregnum and during the reign of King Charles II. A founder of the Whig party, he is also remembered as the patron of John Locke.

Anthony Ashley Cooper was born in 1621 and had lost both of his parents by the age of eight. He was brought up by Edward Tooker and other guardians named in his father's will, before attending Exeter College, Oxford, and Lincoln's Inn. After he married the daughter of Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry, in 1639, Coventry's patronage secured Cooper a seat in the Short Parliament, although Cooper lost a disputed election to a seat in the Long Parliament. During the English Civil War, Cooper initially fought as a Royalist, before departing for the Parliamentary side in 1644. During the English Interregnum, he served on the English Council of State under Oliver Cromwell, although he opposed Cromwell's attempt to rule without parliament during the Rule of the Major-Generals. He also opposed the religious extremism of the Fifth Monarchists during Barebone's Parliament.


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